By Curt Peterson
Dartmouth Health recently released results of a comprehensive survey meant to determine how healthcare needs are being addressed in their “service area,” which includes Hartland and Woodstock. The survey project was performed by Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH, Mt. Ascutney Hospital, New London Hospital, and Valley Regional Hospital. The period covered is October 2023 through December 2024. The total population in the service area is 72,736. Hartland’s population is 3,462, Woodstock’s is 3,025. The median age in both towns is 55.
Survey results highlighted challenges faced by residents of the Vermont and New Hampshire area served by the Dartmouth Hitchcock network. Here are some of the pertinent data covering Windsor County, Woodstock and/or Hartland that readers may find interesting.
Healthcare:
Windsor County residents without a primary care provider – 12%.
Those who delay or avoid seeking care because of delay or cost – 6%.
One in ten experienced food insecurity in the past year.
One third haven’t seen a dentist in 12 months or more.
One third over 65 have fallen in the past 12 months.
County-wide, 31% of adults are obese, and 34% are overweight.
Household income:
Median income in Woodstock is $123,735 per household.
In Hartland, the median income per household is $97,526.
20% of Woodstock’s households are single-parent situations.
34% of Hartland’s households are single-parent situations.
91.4% of service area residents are white.
Education (age 25-plus):
95% are High School graduates.
25% have some college, or Associate’s degree.
43% have a Batchelor’s degree or above.
English-only speakers are 92.5% of the service area population.
Housing:
24.6% of homeowners pay over 30% of income for housing.
50.5% of renters pay more than 30% of income for housing.
25% of Vermont housing was constructed before 1939.
6.8% of Vermont households have no vehicle.
Health insurance, Woodstock:
5% have no health insurance.
23% are covered by Medicare.
23% have Medicaid.
3% are covered through the Veterans’ Administration.
Health insurance, Hartland:
3% have no insurance.
29% are Medicare subscribers.
17% have Medicaid.
3% use VA coverage.
Healthcare providers:
6% in each town have not seen a dr. in 12 months because of cost.
12% of Windsor Co. residents have no primary care provider.
In Windsor Co. there are 999 patients for each doctor, and 1,615 for each dentist.
66% of county residents live at least 15 miles from the nearest birthing center.
